Popped in some EL34s lastnight. NOW we're talking!!!

[jmgman69]

We should move this topic to the I"m glad I hear things different thread!!!I think Matt must be color blind!!! kidding Bro kidding

 

[hotlicks2go]

Just got a set of Svetlana 6550's, can't wait to try them out. I've yet to hear better than Svetlana EL34's and SL2 loaded with Chinese 12AX7B's!

 

[jmgman69]

Just got a set of Svetlana 6550's, can't wait to try them out. I've yet to hear better than Svetlana EL34's and SL2 loaded with Chinese 12AX7B's!

Gosta love them chinese

 

[Valtiel]

I agree with what Gene says about this issue, the Power Amp circuit itself is what mainly determines the tone, not so much the tube itself. Swapping tubes in and out of the same power amp circuit dosent make THAT much of a difference unless of course you are using a Yellowjacket setup. Im sorry, but the power tubes are not going to be responsible for a "lack of midrange". Anyone that believes that the power tubes have that much of a "make or break" impact are victims of simply hearing what they want to, or think they want to hear.

 

[aeroic]

I agree with what Gene says about this issue, the Power Amp circuit itself is what mainly determines the tone, not so much the tube itself. Swapping tubes in and out of the same power amp circuit dosent make THAT much of a difference unless of course you are using a Yellowjacket setup. Im sorry, but the power tubes are not going to be responsible for a "lack of midrange". Anyone that believes that the power tubes have that much of a "make or break" impact are victims of simply hearing what they want to, or think they want to hear.

I agree to a point here. For me, going from a Marshall JCM 800 power section to a Mesa boogie 2:90 to a VHT 2/90/2 all had drastic changes. The VHT 2/90/2 had more of that JCM800 muscle I was wanting with a bit more versatility than the JCM800.

When I initially got my VHT 2/90/2 a while back, I thought the KT88s were great. But then I compared my VHT 2/90/2 w/ KT88s to my recordings with my Marshall JCM 800 power section w/ 6550s and there was a big difference in tone. The KT88s felt a bit grainy and harsh, and had this low mid growl, where the 6550s had a smooth, powerful presence across all the frequency range. Had a killer upper midrange bite, with a powerful low end and great top end. So I did the "TRUE" test. I recorded blindly (I had a friend hook up the VHT 2/90/2 with KT88s on one channel and 6550s on the other. We did several takes playing the same riff, putting it into a song, etc. Everytime I picked the 6550s. There was a pretty noticable difference between 6550s and KT88s that I "BLINDLY" could hear in the recordings. It's the same when comparing a 6550 to a EL34. But, it wasn't as much of tone, as it was feel, headroom, etc. Yes EL34s do have a bit more of a mid-range bump, 6L6s have a mid-range sag, 6550s have higher headroom. And each amp will sound different with different tubes. Drastic changes? No...but subtle changes that will affect feel, and such most definitely.

So to say, that a power tube being responsible for "lack of midrange" could be true....depending on tube. But it's not going to be a major major difference. For me, going to an EL34 lets me get a "crunchier" more gained out sound at a lower level, since the headroom is much lower than a 6550. I probably crank my gain a bit higher than people using a EL34 because of the difference in headroom of the tubes. Similarly if you use a Yellowjacket, you'll back off your gain a fair amount to compensate with the much lower headroom in your power section.

Just my $.02

Eric

 

[broknstuff]

I only hate them cause they fail! Just ask Stricklin who installed some new 34's and the tube was so bad it blew up the board in his MOD 100.

same thing may have happened to me over the weekend..i hope it's just the tubes though but the smoke makes not so sure ..

el34s do sound great though, I had mullards until they blew. I guess now it'll be time to experiment with other tubes since those are shot.

 

[EWSEthan]

I only hate them cause they fail! Just ask Stricklin who installed some new 34's and the tube was so bad it blew up the board in his MOD 100.

same thing may have happened to me over the weekend..i hope it's just the tubes though but the smoke makes not so sure ..

el34s do sound great though, I had mullards until they blew. I guess now it'll be time to experiment with other tubes since those are shot.

Goddamn that is scary. I dont care how much I love the TS 5881s. If they had a risk of blowing the board like the 34s do, Id switch them out in a heartbeat!

 

[aeroic]

I only hate them cause they fail! Just ask Stricklin who installed some new 34's and the tube was so bad it blew up the board in his MOD 100.

same thing may have happened to me over the weekend..i hope it's just the tubes though but the smoke makes not so sure ..

el34s do sound great though, I had mullards until they blew. I guess now it'll be time to experiment with other tubes since those are shot.

Goddamn that is scary. I dont care how much I love the TS 5881s. If they had a risk of blowing the board like the 34s do, Id switch them out in a heartbeat!

Me too man. Some sort of 6550 is going back into my Mod50 for sure . Maybe I'll throw those 5881s back in for fun

Eric

 

[Buckeyedog]

I'm sticking with the 6550's or 5881's in mine too. Just don't want to risk it.

I'll keep the 34's for my Seminar Head.....

 

[jmgman69]

You guys are PUSSIES

 

[broknstuff]

I only hate them cause they fail! Just ask Stricklin who installed some new 34's and the tube was so bad it blew up the board in his MOD 100.

same thing may have happened to me over the weekend..i hope it's just the tubes though but the smoke makes not so sure ..

el34s do sound great though, I had mullards until they blew. I guess now it'll be time to experiment with other tubes since those are shot.

Goddamn that is scary. I dont care how much I love the TS 5881s. If they had a risk of blowing the board like the 34s do, Id switch them out in a heartbeat!

Me too man. Some sort of 6550 is going back into my Mod50 for sure . Maybe I'll throw those 5881s back in for fun

Eric

Yeah I didn't know the tubes blowing could throw the whole amp into the fritz, otherwise I wouldn't have even bothered. Truth is when I got the amp the previous owner had put el34s in there and it sounded great so I never messed with it, and figured okay if and when they give out then I'll experiment. Didn't think it'd take the amp down with them haha..

 

[Buckeyedog]

You guys are PUSSIES

Damn straight!!.........especially when it comes to my baby.. ...........

 

[muudrock]

You guys are PUSSIES

 

[Valtiel]

I only hate them cause they fail! Just ask Stricklin who installed some new 34's and the tube was so bad it blew up the board in his MOD 100.

same thing may have happened to me over the weekend..i hope it's just the tubes though but the smoke makes not so sure ..

el34s do sound great though, I had mullards until they blew. I guess now it'll be time to experiment with other tubes since those are shot.

Goddamn that is scary. I dont care how much I love the TS 5881s. If they had a risk of blowing the board like the 34s do, Id switch them out in a heartbeat!

Me too man. Some sort of 6550 is going back into my Mod50 for sure . Maybe I'll throw those 5881s back in for fun

Eric

Im definitely gonna try some 6550's in my MOD50 at some point. You like the Svetlanas right?

 

[richedie]

Good points on the midrange issues guys and the fact that tube changes are subtle. Either way, at rehearsal today with the TS EL34s, it sounded amazing, the feel was great! I don't get that feel with other tubes and that is important to me.

 

[EWSEthan]

Good points on the midrange issues guys and the fact that tube changes are subtle. Either way, at rehearsal today with the TS EL34s, it sounded amazing, the feel was great! I don't get that feel with other tubes and that is important to me.

Rock on with what you like Rich! Differences of opinion make the world an interesting place!

 

[aeroic]

I only hate them cause they fail! Just ask Stricklin who installed some new 34's and the tube was so bad it blew up the board in his MOD 100.

same thing may have happened to me over the weekend..i hope it's just the tubes though but the smoke makes not so sure ..

el34s do sound great though, I had mullards until they blew. I guess now it'll be time to experiment with other tubes since those are shot.

Goddamn that is scary. I dont care how much I love the TS 5881s. If they had a risk of blowing the board like the 34s do, Id switch them out in a heartbeat!

Me too man. Some sort of 6550 is going back into my Mod50 for sure . Maybe I'll throw those 5881s back in for fun

Eric

Im definitely gonna try some 6550's in my MOD50 at some point. You like the Svetlanas right?

Yep sure do man . Gotta love the Svets